Fastener



Jan. 21, 1936.

L. w, BuRwlcK FASTENER Filed Oct. 9 1953 3 SheetsSheet 1 7 Lloyd WBwW Jan. 21, 1936. L, BURWICK 2,028,714

FASTENER Filed 001;.9, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 r Ll yd mi u wb'c VA)LENCIAS Patented Jan. 21, 1936 UNITED STATES FASTENER Lloyd-W. Burwick, Pomona, Calif., assignor to Brogdex Company, Winter Haven, Fla., a corporation of Florida Application October 9, 1933, Serial No. 692,867

9 Claims.

This invention relates generally to fasteners, and more particularly to fasteners for bags and the like.

Fruit, such as oranges, grapefruit, etc. is often packed in comparatively small open-mesh bags containing about a dozen or so fruits, the packed bags being distributed to wholesalers, retailers and ultimate consumers as unit packages or containers. It is, of course, desirable to make the packed bags or packages as neat and attractive as possible in order to display the fruit to the best possible advantage; also to provide a package which can be conveniently handled and carried.

Each such bag is provided with a drawstring which, according to the practice heretofore prevailing is drawn tightly around the top of the bag to close it after it is filled, the excess length of string thus pulled out forming one or two loose loops, according to the manner of drawing, and being knotted or tied in such manner as to prevent the bag from opening accidentally. This method of fastening or closing the mouth of the bag is objectionable because it forms an unsightly bunched or gathered top and leaves about 8 or 10 inches of string dangling loosely, which is very unsightly and serves no useful purpose. Furthermore, unless the drawstring is tied or knotted tightly, the bag will open and. allow the contents to escape; but, if tied tightly, the bag can be opened only with difficulty and frequently either the bag or drawstring is cut or torn in the operation, thus reducing its subsequent value.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to overcome the objections noted in connection with the prior art and to provide a fastening means and a method for fastening or securing the drawstring of a bag or the like, after the string has been drawn tight to constrict or close the mouth of the bag, which will not only provide a neat, simple, rapid, and positive fastening of said drawstring and a simple and rapid unfastening thereof, but which will also spread or space apart the secured ends of the drawstring, cooperating therewith and with the bag in such a way as to form and maintain a neat open string-loop handle or carrying means for the bag.

Another object of the invention is to provide a detachable fastener which is held in place solely by the drawstring and which, when in place, covers or conceals the unsightly pursed or gathered top or mouth of the bag after it has been drawn up tightly by the drawstring.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined fastener and tag or label which will afford a convenient and desirable way of attaching advertising and/r indicating matter to the bag, the tag or label portions also functioning to conceal the pursed or gathered top 0 mouth of the bag.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a fastener which is not only easy to operate or apply, but which is also simple and strong, not easily torn or damaged, and which can be manufactured at low cost.

Other objects and novel features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate several practical forms of fasteners embodying the invention, and typical combinations thereof with drawstring bags, it being understood that the description of these specific em- .20 bodiments is merely illustrative and not restrictive.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the front of a bag with oneform of fastener embodyingthis invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a view, looking from the left in Fig. 1, showing the fastener in end elevation;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a top plan of the fastener removed from the bag;

Fig. 5 is a front view of the top portion of a bag before the drawstring is drawn up or .35 tightened;

Fig. 6 is a front view of the top portion of a bag after the drawstring is drawn up or tightened and before the fastener is applied;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view somewhat similar to Fig. 1 showing the fastener applied to the bag, the draw-string being shown secured at thev right end and in the process of being secured at the other end;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 9 is aplan of the fastener shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view, like Fig. 1, of another form of fastener applied to a bag in accordance with the invention; and

Figs. 11 and 12 are side and end views, respectively, of still another novel form of fastener in combination with a bag as contemplated by the invention.

Re e ring to the drawings, i dicat s'a has .55

or container which may be made of any suitable material, such as cloth, rubber, paper, etc., but in the example illustrated it is made of an openmesh cloth or fabric to permit the contents of the bag to be readily seen from the outside. The bag is provided adjacent the mouth III with a drawstring 2 of cord or tape, the ends of the cord or tape being tied or otherwise secured together to form endless pursing or puckering means, the drawstring or cord being threaded or woven through or otherwise suitably secured to the bag fabric or material near the free edge thereof, as clearly shown, for example, in Fig. 5, and being long enough to permit the bag mouth to be opened its full width. It is to be understood that the term drawstring or cord, as used herein, includes any suitable form, single or double, of thread, string, strand, cord, twine, tape, or similar fastening means. In the form here shown, the drawstring is of the single strand type; but it may be of any other suitable type, such for example as'the double strand type comprising two separate endless loops or circlets threaded through the fabric near the bag mouth.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1-7 of the drawings, 3 indicates generally the fastener which comprises an elongated strip of sheet material, such as vulcanized fiber, wood, metal, cardboard, or composition or the like. As previously pointed out, one of the objects of this invention is to provide a fastener which will secure the drawstring in such a way as to form and maintain a neat, open, string-loop handle or carrying means for the bag. Accordingly, in order to achieve this object, strip 3 has two spaced drawstring-securing or fastening means or provisions, one adjacent each end of the strip, the strip with said spaced fastening means functioning not merely to secure the drawstring, but also as a spreader element to hold the strands of the looped drawstring positively spaced apart a definite distance to provide and maintain an open string-loop handle or carrying means for the bag.

The specific construction and arrangement of the drawstring-securing or fastening means may vary within the scope of the broad invention. In the example illustrated, such means comprises two spaced holes or passages 4 and 5, one adjacent each end of the strip, together with cooperating slits or passages S and 1 extending from a longitudinal edge 8 of the strip to the holes or openings 4 and 5, respectively, the opposite longitudinal edge 9 of strip 3 preferably being substantially straight or rectilinear for reasons which will be explained hereinafter.

Holes or openings 4 and 5 are preferably madelarge enough so that each one will snugly accommodate or receive a plurality (e. g. two or four) passes therethrough of string or cord 2; and slits or passages 6 and 1 are preferably made narrower or of less width than the diameter of holes 4 and 5. In fact, each slit is most desirably made narrow enough to resiliently or frictionally engage one pass or strand of the string or cord 2 as it is passed therethrough, the sheet material springing sufficiently to permit this. Slits or passages 6 and i are preferably provided with fiared or enlarged mouths or entrance portions BI and H, respectively, to facilitate entrance of the drawstring into said slits.

It is frequently desirable to attach some sort of tag or label to the bags so as to be able to display advertising matter and/or to designate the origin, price, quantity, etc. of the goods contained in the bags and therefore the fastener 3 is provided with a tag or label portion indicated generally by ID. The specific form and arrangement of the tag or label portion I0 may vary within the broad scope of the invention, but in the example illustrated it comprises a strip of sheet material such as heavy paper, light cardboard, cloth, or the like, secured intermediate its ends by a wire staple H or other suitable fastening means to strip 3 so as to provide two laterally projecting tabs [2 and it which extend intermediate the ends of strip 3. If desired, tabs l2 and I3 may be scored or creased at IZI and I3! so that they can be bent to extend along the front and back sides of the bag. Tabs I2 and I3, which carry printed or written matter indicated generally by M, not only provide convenient means for applying or attaching advertising and/or other printed or written matter to the bags, but they also function to conceal or cover the unsightly pursed or gathered top, as will be explained more fully hereinafter, and thus they constitute an important and novel feature of this invention, as has been previously emphasized.

In applying the fastener to the bag to secure the drawstring 2 and at the same time form a closure forthe mouth III of the bag, after the bag is filled with the material or articles to be packed, oranges for example, the packer takes hold of the drawstring, where it is threaded or looped outside of the bag, at approximately opposite and equidistant points (at the points marked X and Y in Fig. 5), and pulls upwardly on these loops against the resisting weight of the filled bag, thus causing the bag mouth to pucker and close, and exposing the excess length of the endless drawstring as two projecting slack loops l5. and I6 of substantially equal size, the remainder of the drawstring constituting gathering or gather-forming loops H and I8 which constrict orclose the mouth of the bag. Slack loops I5 and 16 are then pulled or drawn up tightly and placed together to form one double or combination slack loop as illustrated in Fig. 6, for example; and this double loop, when properly held by fastener and spreader means in accordance with the invention, affords a handle by which the bag may be carried. Gather-forming or puckering loops I! and ill of course serve to maintain two gathers or puckers in the bag fabric at slightly spaced and oppositely disposed localities in the mouth of the bag when the slack loops I5, l5, are drawn up snugly.

The fastener 3 is then applied to fasten the double or combined slack drawstring loop at its opposite ends in such manner as not only to prevent the pursed or puckered bag mouth from accidentally opening up but also to hold said ends positively in the desired spaced apart relation for handle-forming purposes. In one practical way of accomplishing this, the operator, while holding the projecting combined slack loop 55-45 of the drawstring 2 in one hand, forces one end portion of said slack loop constituting the leads from one gather-forming loop, I! for example, into one of the slits or passages, slit 6 for example, and through it into the hole or opening 4. The leads thus positioned in the hole are pulled therethrough while that end of the fastener 3 is being pushed snugly against the mouth of the bag, the gather-forming loop ll being thus pulled taut to purse or pucker tightly the corresponding portion of the bag mouth.

the fastener 3, around the opposite edge :9, .and

are again forced into the slit .or passage .6 and through it into the connecting hole 4, the leads then being pulled tight to complete the fastening. In view of the fact that longitudinal edge 9 of strip 3 is straight or rectilinear, it is impossible for the tightly looped or wrapped-around portion of the drawstring to slip off the strip. In the same way, the leads from the other gather-forming loop I 8 (at the other end of the combined slack loop l5-I.6) are then secured in the other hole or opening 5 at the opposite end of the fastener device. Fig. 7 shows at the left the leads from gather-forming loop I! partially positioned, and .at the right the leads from gather-forming loop I8 finally positioned in the holes or openings 4 and 5, respectively, of fastener 3.

It is to be observed that holes oropenings 4 and 5 tightly hold the leads from the gather-forming loops l7 and [:8, respectively, because of the fact that each is only large enough to snugly, and therefore frictionally, hold the four passes of drawstring 2. The drawstring is therefore securely locked or fastened at two spaced points and it is impossible for it to become loose. Although one turn of the .drawstring about the fastening means is usually suificient, additional turns may be made if desired, the diameter of holes 4 and 5 being made larger, if necessary, to take the additional passes of string.

It will be seen that, as a result of fastening the bag as above described, two portions of the margin of the bag mouth are gathered or puckered and are connected by two non-gathered substantially rectilinear portions, indicated at 3 in Figs. 1 and 6, held fiat against each other in face-to-face relation intermediate the gathered portions, by the spreading or spacing action .of

the elongated body of the fastener 3. The fas-- tener body overlies or extends along this rectilinear intermediate portion of the closed bag mouth, the length of which is substantially equal to the effective distance between the locking holes 4, 5. The upper part of the filled bag is thus flattened or wedge-shaped somewhat like the upper part of a satchel. tate attaining this result as well as to get most satisfactory results in other respects, the threading or stitching of the drawstring through the fabric at the margin of the bag mouth may be, and most desirably is, so arranged or spaced therealong that, at two substantially opposite localities, at least on said margin, there shall be a length of margin underlying an exposed drawstring loop or stitch but otherwise free of the drawstring, this free portion being substantially equal in length to the effective distance between the two locking holes 4, 5, or other locking means, with which the fastening device is provided. This ordinarily requires specially threading or otherwise securing the drawstring in or to the bag fabric, in order to attain the above described cooperation between the bag mouth and fastener device. But it can be done inexpensively in making bags on a large scale; and, since the arrangement ofiers desirable practical advantages, it constitutes an important feature of the invention in the more specific aspects thereof and is to be recommended for use in actual practice. 7

It will be noted, as already indicated, that when the fastener is in place to hold the mouth In order to facili- M the bag in :closed position, it acts not only to securely fasten and hold the drawstring against slipping but also to spread or space apart the secured ends of the slack loop or loops of the drawstring in such a way as to form .and maintain an open handle-loop always for ready insertion of the fingers, this handle loop being the more .readily grasped because it is spaced from contact with the gathered edges of the closed bag mouth by the interposed strip body of the fastener and is thereby caused to stand out or away from the bag in a prominent and convenient position. In other words, the strip 3 acts both as a fastening device and as a-spreader element holding the strands of the slack drawstring loop apart a definite distance so that they will also be in convenient position to provide and maintain :an open string-loop handle or carrying means for the bag. Furthermore, because the drawstring passes up through the strip 3 at points considerably short of the extreme ends thereof, the strip being pushed down tightly against the mouth of the bag and held in this position by the drawstring, strip 3 fits over the constricted mouth of the bag and wholly or largely covers and conceals the unsightly bunched or pursed top of the bag, thus providing an exceedingly eflicient, yet neat and simpler, fastening or closure. This. covering and concealing function may be enhanced by providing the strip 3 with means, such as tabs I2 and 13, extending laterally therefrom and of a size sufiicient to overlie or cover the mouth and upper part of the bag to any desired-extent. .As here shown these tabs are relatively small in size. With the body 3 of the fastener they form a saddle-like combination straddling the closed mouth of the bag. The flattened or wedge-shaped contour of the upper part of the bag is of advantage in' enabling these tabs to lie close against the bag, giving the combination a smooth, neat appearance.

It will be noted, as above mentioned, that the tabs l2 and I3 may further function, not only as a concealing means to improve the appearance of the closed bag, but also to provide a simple, attractive and convenient means for displaying advertising or other printed or written matter on the bag. As here shown, the tabs carry markings indicating the brand, size, net weight and price of the bag contents, oranges in this particular instance.

It will also be observed that fastener 3 can be quickly and easily applied and that the drawstring is thereby securely held against slipping. The drawstring can also be quickly and easily unfastened without injury to either the bag or the drawstring. In order to unfasten the drawstring, it is only necessary to pull or force the leads from the gather-forming loopis II and I8 (i. e. the fastened ends of the double slack loopl5, l6) out through the slits or slots 6 and I, unwind them from around the fastener 3, and pull them out of holes 4 and 5 through slits 6 and I.

Fig. 8 illustrates another form of the invention which is similar to the form illustrated in Figs. 1-7 but 'differs'therefrom slightly in that the longitudinal edge 9 of the strip, opposite to that in which the slits 6 7* (corresponding to 6, of Fig. 4) are formed, is provided conveniently adjacent holes 4 and 5 with notches or indentations I9 and 26, respectively, which are adapted to receive the wrapped-around portions of the drawstring in the manner clearly illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. These notches positively lock the wrapped-around portions in place and additionally guard against their being forced off around the ends of strip 3 Ordinarily the additional safeguard provided by this form of the invention is quite unnecessary, the form illustrated in Figs. 1-7 being entirely satisfactory and unusually more desirable in practice because of its greater simplicity.

Fig. 10 illustrates another embodiment of the invention which, although differing from those already described in respect to the form of string or tape locking means employed, involves the same general principle. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 10, which is well adapted for use with a drawstring of tape, the ends of the strip 3* are provided with slits or slots 2|, 22, 23 and 24, two at each end, the slits at each end being substantially parallel. Each slit or slot is adapted to separately receive and frictionally hold a single strand or lead of the drawtape or ribbon 2 the tape being pulled up through the respective slits or slots until the gather-forming loops Il and I8 are pulled taut, the fastener 3 being pushed down and tightly secured against the constricted mouth of the bag. The slits or slots are provided with flared or enlarged entrance portions or mouths 25, 26, 21 and 28, respectively to facilitate entrance of the drawstring into said slits or slots.

Figs. 11 and 12 illustrate still another typical embodiment of the invention wherein the ends of the strip 3 are provided with friction buttons or disks 29, 30, 3! and 32, said buttons or disks being arranged in pairs, one at each end of the strip. One button of each pair is arranged on one side of the strip and the other button is arranged on the other side, each pair being held together and secured to strip 3 by means of a metallic eyelet or rivet 33, 34. In the example illustrated each button or disk is adapted separately to receive and frictionally hold a single strand or lead of the drawstring 2, each strand or lead being pulled up tight to constrict the mouth of the bag and then wrapped one or more times about its respective button or disk, the strip 3 being pushed down tightly against the mouth of the bag before the drawstring is thus secured. It will be seen that the drawstring is thus tightly held against slipping by reason of the frictional engagement with the buttons or disks 29, 30, 3| and 32. If desired, instead of providing a pair of friction disks at each end of strip 3, only one disk may be provided at each end, so that each disk will receive two strands or leads of the drawstring.

Although reference has been made by way of example to the use of the fasteners embodying this invention for fastening or securing bags of fruit such as oranges, for which the invention is particularly adapted, the invention is of course not limited to such use.

While the specific forms of strand-locking or anchoring means used at the ends of the spreader strip (3, 3 3 3) in the several hereindescribed typical specific embodiments of the invention are particularly advantageous in the combinations shown, it will be understood that the invention is in no sense limited thereto but that any suitable form of such locking means may be made use of within the scope of the invention herein described and defined in the appended claims. Also, while the invention has been explained with reference to the use of a. single drawstring for closing the bag, it is, ob-

viously applicable to cases where a'double drawstring, i. e., two separate but cooperating drawstrings, is used. Nor, where a single drawstring is used, is it essential in the broader aspects of the invention, that the bag be closed thereby in such manner as to provide two slack loops of the drawstring. There may be but a single slack loop, the ends of which are held by the described fastening device in the same or an anal ogous manner to provide a convenient handleloop; although using a single slack loop is usually less desirable in practice. These and other changes in structural details of the fastening means and combination thereof with a bag container of the general character described, as well as in the method of closing the container, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the broad invention as defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination, with a bag and an endless drawstring for closing the mouth of the bag, said drawstring being drawn up to: form two gathers at spaced points in the mouth of the bag and a double slack loop leading from said gathers, of an elongated member provided with drawstring-fastening means adjacent its ends for fastening said drawstring adjacent said gathers, said member maintaining the spacing of said gathers and cooperating with the drawstring to provide an open looped-string handle for the bag.

2. The combination, with a bag and a drawstring for closing the mouth of the bag, of means for fastening said drawstring comprising an elongated strip of sheet material provided with two spaced drawstring-receiving holes, one adjacent each end of said strip, said strip being rovided along one edge with a pair of slits respectively connecting said holes with said edge to permit the drawstring to be positioned in said holes, said drawstring being held in said holes and wrapped around the portions of said strip lying between the holes and the other edge.

3. The combination, with a bag and a drawstring for closing the mouth of the bag, of means for fastening said drawstring comprising an elongated strip of sheet material provided with two spaced drawstring-receiving holes, one adjacent each end of said strip, saidstrip being provided along one edge with a pair of slits respectively connecting said holes with said edge topermit the drawstring to be positioned in said holes, the opposite edge of said strip being substantially rectilinear, said drawstring being held in said holes and wrapped around the portions of said strip lying between the holes and the rectilinear edge.

4. The combination, with a bag and a drawstring for closing the mouth of the bag, of means for fastening said drawstring comprising, an elongated strip of sheet material provided with two spaced drawstring-receiving holes, one adjacent each end of said strip, said strip being provided along one edge with a pair of slits respectively connecting said holes with said edge to permit said drawstring to be positioned in said holes, the opposite edge of said strip being provided with string-receiving notches operatively adjacent said holes, said drawstring being held in said holes and wrapped around the portions of said strip lying between the holes and the notches.

5. The combination, with a bag and a drawstring for closing the mouth of the bag, of

an elongated strip of sheet material provided adjacent each end with two slits each adapted to receive and separately hold at spaced points a drawstring lead.

6. The combination, with a bag and a drawstring for closing the mouth of the bag, of means for fastening said drawstring comprising an elongated strip of sheet material, said strip being provided adjacent its ends with a plurality of friction disks adapted to receive and 'hold said drawstring at spaced points.

7. The combination, with a bag and a drawstring for closing the mouth of the bag, of means for fastening said drawstring comprising an elongated strip of sheet material provided with laterally extending portions adapted. to fit over and substantially conceal the mouth of the bag when closed, said strip being provided adjacent its ends with a plurality of friction disks adapted to receive and hold said drawstring at spaced points.

8. The combination, with a bag, of a closure drawstring so attached thereto and so drawn as to gather or purse the margin of the bag month except for a predetermined portion thereof, at the ends of which portion the slack drawstring leads emerge, an elongated fastening device substantially coextensive with the closed bag mouth and having provision at spaced points for holding said drawstring leads in spaced-apart relation, the distance between said points approximating the length of said predetermined portion of the bag mouth margin.

9. The combination, with a bag, of a closure drawstring so attached thereto and sodrawn as to close the bag mouth by gathering or pursing the mouth margin at two localities separated from each other by two substantially equal ungathered portions of said margin, the slack drawstring leads emerging in two pairs, one adjacent each gathered or pursed portion of the mouth margin, and forming two slack loops substantially equal in length, an elongated fastening device extending along the closed bag mouth and provided with drawstring-holding means spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the length of each of the said ungathered portions of said margin, the respective pairs of drawstring leads being held by said means in corresponding spaced relation, whereby the ungathered portions of the mouth margin are held together to flatten the bag closure intermediate the said gathered or pursed portions.

LLOYD W. BURWICK. 

